Buffs fall in 1A boys final

ALBUQUERQUE - The run finally ended for the Melrose Buffaloes on Thursday.

Top-seeded Magdalena scored the final six points of the first half, then pulled away in the third period and handed the Buffs a 56-43 loss in the Class 1A boys state championship game at The Pit.

The Steers (15-0), in their first year in 1A after dropping down a class, ended Melrose's three-year title run behind 19 points from junior guard Joran Mirabal and 14 from sophomore guard Kael Stephens.

"The whole key to this game for us was controlling tempo," Buffs coach Kevin Lackey said. "They're a really fast team with dynamic guards."

Leading 22-20, the Steers' spurt prior to halftime pushed the lead to eight, and they outscored Melrose 17-7 in the third period. It was too much to overcome, although the second-seeded Buffs did cut the margin under 10 briefly in the final stanza.

"We had a great fourth quarter," Lackey said. "We came after them hard, but it was too little, too late."

Mirabal was held nearly 10 points beneath his season average of 28.8 ppg, and the Steers were well below their norm of 68. But Mag's defense also kept the Buffs (13-1) well in check, and only three players scored for Melrose - led by senior Tate Sorgen with 30 points to go with 14 rebounds.

Lackey said he was proud of his squad, which graduates six seniors.

"Our guys handled losing with class," he said. "It's never fun to lose, but I'll take my guys over anyone any day of the week."

He noted the school's boys and girls teams have now represented Melrose in the 1A state finals each of the last four years.

"That's kind of unique," he said. "It's been a great run."

Melrose 93, Elida 44 (Tuesday, semifinals) - After struggling early in a home quarterfinal win over Springer on Monday night, the Buffs were clicking on all cylinders against the No. 3-seeded Tigers at Melrose.

Melrose sprinted to a 33-14 lead at the quarter and never looked back.

"We came out guns blazing, with lots of energy," Lackey said. "The biggest things with Elida are to get back on defense and to rebound with them."

Sorgen scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Melrose, while freshman guard Michael Cardonita combined 16 points, nine assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Meantime, senior guard Trace Jackson had five of the team's nine 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, while junior guard Brandon Garcia added 16, surpassing his previous high of 15 set against Springer.

Melrose took the wind out of Elida's sails early, and the Tigers suffered through a 2-for-15 night from the foul line.

Junior Rylan Creighton led Elida (11-2), which saw its 11-game winning streak snapped, with 15 points. The Buffs limited the Tigers' other top threat, senior Teagan Burton, to just five.

"We really made it hard on Creighton and Burton," Lackey said. "And I think we came out and hit like 6-of-8 from 3-point (range) in the first quarter."